The sacrifice of the men and women who are often the unsung heroes of the high seas will be marked in Taunton, with The Red Ensign being raised as the town prepares to mark Merchant Navy Day.

Taunton Deane Borough Council is supporting the event organised by national charity Seafarers UK, to raise public awareness of the Merchant Navy's massive contribution to the life of the 'island nation' of Great Britain.

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Merchant Navy Day, which takes place on September 3, was first held in 2000, with the 'Fly the Red Ensign" campaign launched in 2015 to remind people of its national significance and encourage their support.

A special ceremony will take place at Deane House at 11am on Friday, September 1, when The Red Ensign will be raised by Deputy Mayor Councillor Catherine Herbert alongside representatives from the Merchant Navy Association, 40 Commando Royal Marines, 675 Rifles Squadron and the Army Air Corps.

The Deputy Mayor will give a short speech before a prayer by the Mayor's Chaplain the Reverend David Manning.

There will then be two minutes’ silence during when the flag is raised.

Councillor Herbert said it was a huge honour to officiate the ceremony.

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By the end of the Second World War more than 4,700 British ships had been sunk and more than 35,000 Merchant seamen had lost their lives.

Merchant Navy Day honours the brave men and women who kept Great Britain going during both World Wars and celebrates our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95 per cent of the UK's imports, including much of the food we eat, most of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted.